I'm Going To Japan

Tu_triky wrote:This girl is going to grow up to be a rockstar....

Hopefully not a Visual Kei one. :bleh:

bmwracer wrote:
Hopefully not a Visual Kei one. :bleh:

Hehe. :hehe:

I bet you she has a pimped out tricycle. :hehe:

American 'B-boy' sings the soul of Japan

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JeroEnka, traditional Japanese ballads, are songs that inspire the soul of not only the Japanese but a B-boy. Jero, apparently the first black enka singer in Japan, performed his smash hit debut single "Umiyuki" at a HMV store in Tokyo's Shibuya-ku on Wednesday.

Born in Pittsburgh in the United States, the 26-year-old singer was brought up listening to enka from a young age inspired by his Japanese grandmother. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003, he moved to Japan to become an enka singer.

Only two months later, Jero did well in NHK's amateur singing contest, showed successful results at local karaoke contests around the nation, and was scouted by a record label. Fluent in everyday Japanese, which he had learned in high school and college, Jero developed his vocal skills for enka during a two-year voice training period.

Jero, who appeared in a red hip-hop outfit at Wednesday's event, also displayed a "dance version" performance of his hit enka song. "I don't think I would look great in a kimono. I hope more young people will like enka after listening to my song," he said.

He also showed his gratitude to his grandmother, who died three years ago. "I will never forget my grandmother who always supported me. I think she is watching over me somewhere now."

The record company has shipped about 83,000 copies of the single, which is an extraordinary number for a new enka singer.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080222p2a00m0et016000c.html

Wow.

You don't see that every day... ;)

Props to that kid. :victory:

bmwracer wrote:Wow.

You don't see that every day... ;)

Props to that kid. :victory:

Serious...that guy almost went gold...he sold 83,000 albums....wow. and this is enka, not pop. :shocked:

bmwracer wrote:Wow.

You don't see that every day... ;)

Props to that kid. :victory:

Fuggin A!!!! This guy sounds dayem good! Listen up:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x48dm9_umiyuki-jero_music

Tu_triky wrote:

Fuggin A!!!! This guy sounds dayem good! Listen up:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x48dm9_umiyuki-jero_music

wow he's good. the intro music was kinda deceiving though

monta wrote:

wow he's good. the intro music was kinda deceiving though

Certainly...but my jaw dropped when I heard his voice though....it's funny to hear an American singing enka....especially at the age of 26....crazy.

Tu_triky wrote:

Certainly...but my jaw dropped when I heard his voice though....it's funny to hear an American singing enka....especially at the age of 26....crazy.

Didn't you post a clip of him somewhere else? I remember seeing him on a Japanese Variety show. I think it was a youtube vid.

Wynter wrote:

Didn't you post a clip of him somewhere else? I remember seeing him on a Japanese Variety show. I think it was a youtube vid.

Perhaps somebody else did...but I just read about him....I posted the dailymotion streaming video of his PV.

Tu_triky wrote:

Perhaps somebody else did...but I just read about him....I posted the dailymotion streaming video of his PV.

Yesh I saw! He was very charming on the variety show. The other guests were shocked at his accurate pronunciation. :hehe:

Wynter wrote:

Yesh I saw! He was very charming on the variety show. The other guests were shocked at his accurate pronunciation. :hehe:

Yeah I saw that clip...he was on a Japanese morning show...and they were asking him about his life, and his grandma, and what kind of food he likes...he said he likes natto and umeboshi! That was fuggin' hilarious.

Tu_triky wrote:Fuggin A!!!! This guy sounds dayem good! Listen up:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x48dm9_umiyuki-jero_music

SUGOI!!!!!!

If you didn't tell me that this guy was a brother, I'd swear he was a Japanese national... :victory:

Again, props to this kid. :thumbsup:


EDIT: Here's his Wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jero

bmwracer wrote:
SUGOI!!!!!!

If you didn't tell me that this guy was a brother, I'd swear he was a Japanese national... :victory:

Again, props to this kid. :thumbsup:


EDIT: Here's his Wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jero

He's from Pittsburgh but he's actually a quarter Japanese from his mom's side who's is half japanese herself...but the kid makes my jaw drop...it's so exceptional to be doing what he's doing....

Tu_triky wrote:He's from Pittsburgh but he's actually a quarter Japanese from his mom's side who's is half japanese herself...but the kid makes my jaw drop...it's so exceptional to be doing what he's doing....

Yeah, it's.... Awesome.

The hip-hoppy opening is sorta old hat, but but when he gets going... :thumbsup:

Wonder if they'll try to bring it to the States... That'd be wild. :mrgreen:

bmwracer wrote:
Yeah, it's.... Awesome.

The hip-hoppy opening is sorta old hat, but but when he gets going... :thumbsup:

Wonder if they'll try to bring it to the States... That'd be wild. :mrgreen:

Well I hope he's enjoying himself, because I'm sure it's the fulfillment of a dream, given that he was inspired by his Grandma.

Tu_triky wrote:

Well I hope he's enjoying himself, because I'm sure it's the fulfillment of a dream, given that he was inspired by his Grandma.

that is some great Japanese music, where i can d/l or a copy for myself.
this guy has got some major talent. :applaud:

qilver wrote:

that is some great Japanese music, where i can d/l or a copy for myself.
this guy has got some major talent. :applaud:

I'm not quite sure as I haven't really looked...I just listened to his videos on dailymotion and youtube....

...if I find anything I'll let you know.

Tu_triky wrote:

I'm not quite sure as I haven't really looked...I just listened to his videos on dailymotion and youtube....

...if I find anything I'll let you know.

as with the others on here, i was truly amazed at this young man's talent, and the first african american to sing that kind of music, is truly outstanding. Personally, that kind of music is very intriquing and rich in culture.

thanks for any info you can find and for providing the video link too. :applaud: